A man has been sentenced to 32 weeks in jail for death by careless driving after a ‘tragic incident’ which resulted in the death of an off-duty police officer from Kendal.

Graham Ellison, of Back Lane, Warton was sentenced today (June 22) at Carlisle Crown Court for the offence which occurred on September 16, 2019 and resulted in the death of 27-year-old Oliver Evans.

The 59-year-old has also been disqualified from driving for two years and is required to pay a victim surcharge.

The court heard that Ellison was travelling along the A683 in a Peugeot van when he was involved in a collision at 4:40pm at Middleton with a Triumph motorcycle.

Ellison had overtaken a horse and carriage at low-speed moments before the collision and remained on the wrong side of the road, where he was planning to pull into a junction on that side of the road.

During this manoeuvre, the motorcyclist had come around the blind bend causing him to take immediate action before colliding with the van.

The rider of the motorcycle, Oliver Evans, sadly died at the scene.

Oliver was a serving police constable with Cumbria Constabulary and was based within the constabulary’s Mobile Support Group at Kendal.

Ellison pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing on April 28, 2020 at Carlisle Crown Court.

Inspector Steve Vickers, senior investigating officer from the mobile support group, said: “This is a tragic incident which resulted in the death of Oliver Evans.

“Ellison’s decision to remain on the wrong side of the road towards a blind bend without consideration of other motorists travelling was careless.

“This inevitably meant Oliver had to take emergency action.

“Oliver’s passing continues to be felt by his family, friends and colleagues

“He achieved his dream of becoming a traffic officer in the police and was a caring, loving and loyal individual.

“Our thoughts are with Oliver’s parents Shirley and Simon, sister Eleanor and partner Holly at this difficult time.

“We respectfully ask for their privacy during this difficult time.”